We began filming today at Immaculate Conception boarding school in Save, (Sah-Vay) Rwanda. Our host, Sister Augusta, and her fellow Benebikira Sisters work at the school. The school enrolls about 400 children aged 13-18. In Rwanda, universal education ends at sixth grade. There are tight academic restrictions on who can attend public highschool. The Benebikira nuns run many schools around the country to give more children the opportunity for education.
A word about the 'film crew'. I use this term loosely because there are two of us: Christine Giordano, and myself. Christine is the director of the documentary, and I'm the sounddude/prodution assistant/mosquito wrangler/go-fer.
We're staying at the Benebikira Convent in Butare, Rwanda. The nuns have given us rooms to stay in, tons of food to eat, and have been the warmest hosts we could've asked for. They've let us do a little cooking for them, and help us recall our high school french to use in conversation. The nuns range in age from about 25 to 80. All of these women lived through the genocide of 1994, and it's come up at a few somber moments. They have an amazing little community of 15 here, and they do excellent work for many.
The situation in Rwanda as a whole is unbelievably complicated. The country is typical of many in Sub-Saharan Africa. Barely any infrastructure, and unbelievable poverty. Rwanda's war-torn past is what makes it such an interesting case. The country is at once destitute, but also a very hopeful place.
It seems to me that things don't get much more complicated than in Rwanda. I've seen one television in the entire country, but many have mobile phones. The nuns have to boil water to do the dishes, and they cook on a single gas stove, but they call and text eachother frequently. It's a pretty amazing thing to drive down the road and witness workers laying the first internet cables to ever connect Butare to the rest of the world. Most of the country's internet traffic is from wireless mobile modems.
Most roads are in terrible shape, and the most skilled drivers weave across two lanes to find flat pavement (or in most cases dirt). Everywhere we go, men women and children carry things on their heads, and dirtbike-taxis drive around looking for a fare.
Most of the people are very very friendly, but a few look at me like an oppressor. All the children smile, the women are polite, but most of the men above a certain age simply stare. I can't say it makes me comfortable, but I most certainly can understand.
It doesn't get much more different from home than this. Posts will continue to come, and i'll do my best to get some pictures up for you all. Stay well, I'm doing my best to keep the mosquitos away!
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4 comments:
Wow Dan, what an adventure! Thanks for writing this blog so we can all stay in the loop with what you're doing. It must be at least a little difficult in a country with no land internet...Keep it up though! Be safe, my friend, and be careful! Like you said, they have a lot of reason to be angry at people who look like you, and 1994 wasn't so long ago at all. I'm sure you know and I'm just nagging, but I worry! Good luck and keep writing!
Hey! Glad you're both doing well and hopefully the doc is coming along nicely. I can't wait to hear all about the trip and see what I'm sure will be thousands of photos. Have fun, be safe, and wear extra bug-guard. ;)
Great to get a glimpse of this, Dan. I heard that about cell phones--they just make so much sense in countries where physical structures (like roads and water pipes) are rarely built/maintained. Can't wait to see more pictures.
Best,
Kim
Enjoyed the post Dan. Certainly reminded me of some memories from Togo! Take care!!
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